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5 Best Tree Service Insurance Compared: Coverage, Cost, & How to Choose

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Lawn care service person trimming a shrub.

You’re building a strong business, and the right insurance helps protect it from the unexpected. We dug into the five best tree service insurance providers to uncover which ones truly support tree professionals like you.

Insurance Canopy leads the list for its balance of low cost, flexible tools, and solid protection. Each provider on this list offers something unique, and we’re here to help you find your best fit.

  • Best overall: Insurance Canopy — based on comprehensive coverage and affordable pricing
  • For high-risk tree services needing excess and surplus lines (E&S) market access: Progressive Commercial
  • Short-term tree service coverage: Thimble
  • Hard-to-insure tree service businesses: Tivly
  • Specialized, large-scale work: NIP Group (TreePro)

*Note: Transparency is one of Insurance Canopy’s core brand values. This guide was created with the most recent and verifiable information available to help our readers identify which provider is best for their business (even if it’s not us).

Best Tree Service Insurance Providers

Let’s make this simple. Below is a quick comparison of the best tree service liability insurance providers to help you determine which fits your needs best.

ProviderStarting Price Per Month*Coverage IncludedSame Day COI?Buy 100% Online?Base Coverage Limit
Insurance Canopy$31 / monthGeneral liability$2,000,000
Progressive CommercialVaries by third-party insurerGeneral liability$1,000,000
Thimble$151.94 / monthGeneral liability$1,000,000
TivlyNeed to talk to an agentGeneral liability$2,000,000
NIP Group (TreePro)Starts at $10,000 / yearGeneral liability$1,000,000

 

*Prices are as were publicly obtainable as of the time of writing, based on a Washington State-based tree service business with no employees.

**Price quote for general liability insurance for a Washington State-based business with an expected annual revenue of $60,000 and no employees; provider questions were answered to get the lowest starting cost for an apples-to-apples comparison.

Insurance Canopy: Best Tree Service Insurance Overall

ProsCons
  • No option to get a business owner’s policy (BOP)
  • Covers ground-based trimming only (no aerial or lift work allowed)
Cost: Starts at $31 per month

Key Coverages Offered

Standout Features

  • Fully mobile experience: buy, manage, or renew on the go
  • Top-rated customer support from commission-free support agents
  • A+ rated carrier


At Insurance Canopy, we specialize in providing fast, simple, and reliable coverage for ground-based tree service professionals.

Whether you’re a non-aerial arborist, vendor, or landscape contractor, our tailored policies offer real-world protection designed to meet your needs.

With instant COIs, flexible coverage options, and optional add-ons, Insurance Canopy is the trusted choice for professionals who need coverage they can count on – without the hassle.

Progressive Commercial: Good for High-Risk Tree Services Needing Excess and Surplus (E&S) Market Access

ProsCons
  • Access to excess and surplus (E&S) carriers that cover high-risk tree services
  • Custom quotes tailored by licensed agents familiar with tree service risks
  • Can bundle with commercial auto, workers comp, and other coverages
  • No upfront pricing
  • General liability coverage is provided by a third-party carrier
  • Slower purchase process (must speak with an agent or wait for a quote)
  • Limited online management tools compared to newer platforms
Cost: Custom quote; varies by third-party insurer

Key Coverages Offered

  • General liability
  • Commercial auto (offered directly by Progressive)
  • Products and completed operations
  • Inland marine
  • Workers compensation
  • Business owner’s policy

Standout Features

  • Ideal for companies that do aerial work, crane use, or stump grinding
  • Acts as a broker and connects you with insurers that accept hazardous risks
  • Access to live support from licensed agents who specialize in contractors


Progressive offers some policies directly (such as commercial auto), but for tree service insurance specifically, they often act as a broker, connecting you with a third-party insurer through their Progressive Advantage® Business Program.

This makes Progressive a strong option for higher-risk operations where coverage through standard insurers may be unavailable.

Thimble: Best for Short-Term Tree Service Coverage

ProsCons
  • Hourly, daily, monthly, or annual policies
  • Instant coverage and COI
  • No long-term commitment required
  • Easily modify, pause, or cancel your policy anytime
  • Above-ground work coverage excludes tree removal
  • Work above 30 feet (three stories) is not covered
  • May be more expensive than traditional policies for long-term coverage
Cost: $151.94 per month

Key Coverages Offered

  • General liability
  • Business equipment protection
  • Cyber liability

Standout Features

  • Flexible, on-demand policies
  • Manage your policy via mobile app
  • Designed for small or solo tree professionals
  • Fast, no-obligation quoting and purchase process


Thimble is ideal for small-scale or ground-level tree service operations that value flexibility over full-scale coverage. If you don’t need tree removal coverage and want the option to insure only when you’re working,

Thimble offers fast, no-fuss protection that grows with your schedule.

Tivly: Great for Hard-To-Insure Tree Service Businesses

ProsCons
  • Access to 200+ insurance partners specialized in high-risk industries like tree removal and trimming
  • Offers flexible payment plans and low down payments
  • Can bundle coverage into a BOP for savings
  • Additional insureds included
  • No in-house policies; works as a referral network
  • No instant online quote – you must submit your info and wait for an agent to call you
Cost: Custom quote; you submit your info, and a Tivly agent will call you back to discuss pricing and coverage options

Key Coverages Offered

  • General liability
  • Professional liability
  • Commercial property
  • Business interruption
  • Inland marine
  • Workers compensation
  • Commercial auto

Standout Features

  • Personalized insurance guidance with an agent
  • Includes additional insured and free certificates of insurance to meet client or contract requirements


Tivly is best suited for tree service professionals who need coverage for high-risk or hard-to-insure operations, as they have access to 200+ insurance providers.

While you can’t get a quote instantly online, their team quickly follows up to match you with an agent who understands your needs.

NIP Group’s TreePro: Ideal for Specialized, Large-Scale Work

ProsCons
  • Industry-specific program with 35+ years experience
  • Coverage tailored for all sizes – from owner-operators to large companies
  • Includes specialty coverages like crane and boom, wildfire liability, and pesticide applicator coverage
  • Offers excess liability up to $25 million and workers comp with risk management support
  • A+ rated carrier
  • Minimum package premium of $10,000 (less suited for small or solo operators)
  • No instant online quotes – submission requires application and documentation
  • Slightly longer underwriting process due to tailored risk assessments
Cost: Minimum package premium starts at $10,000 annually. Pricing varies based on coverage and risk profile; contact NIP Group for a customized quote.

Key Coverages Offered

  • General liability
  • Auto liability
  • Property and inland marine
  • Excess liability
  • Umbrella liability
  • Wildfire liability protection (nationwide, including California)
  • Workers compensation
  • Arborist errors and omissions
  • Pesticide and herbicide applicator coverage
  • Crane and boom coverage
  • Limited jobsite pollution and auto pollution broadened coverage
  • Crime, contractors’ pollution liability
  • EPLI (employment practices liability insurance)
  • Cyber liability

Standout Features

  • The largest tree service insurance program
  • Specialized insurance solutions designed specifically for the tree care industry
  • Available in all states

TreePro is a great choice for established companies that need serious protection and expert support.

You’ll need to submit an application to get a quote – there’s no instant online pricing – but the coverage is tailored to fit the real risks tree professionals face every day.

Pro Tip: Comparing quotes is easier when you know what coverage matters most. Brush up landscaping insurance with our quick landscaping insurance coverage guidefor more information.

A man loading a tree into a wood chipper on a nice day.

Tree Service Business Insurance Isn’t Just Paperwork… It’s Peace of Mind.

Having insurance means showing up confident, knowing you’re protected from financial setbacks that could otherwise cut down your business overnight.

While every provider in this list has something valuable to offer, Insurance Canopy offers the best balance of coverage, cost, and convenience for most tree service professionals.

Top Questions About the Best Tree Service Insurance Options

Do I need insurance to start a tree service business?

Yes. Most clients will require proof of liability insurance before you can work. Even if it’s not required by law, it protects your business from expensive claims and helps you win jobs.

At a minimum, you’ll need general liability insurance. Depending on your work, you might also need coverage for your tools, trailer, commercial auto, or workers comp if you hire employees.

General liability typically includes third-party property damage and bodily injury caused by your work. For example, if a falling branch hits a fence or someone gets hurt near your worksite, this coverage helps pay for those costs.

Coverage starts as low as $31 per month with Insurance Canopy. Prices vary based on the type of work, location, and business size.

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Lawn Care Insurance

Policies As Low As

$31

Per Month

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Get Covered With

Lawn Care Insurance

Annual Policies Starting at

$31

Per Month

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